Pascale Bugnon has joined the Geneva Heritage Lab as a postdoctoral researcher

Pascale Bugnon holds a PhD in Chinese Studies from the University of Geneva. Her academic journey began with studies in anthropology and sociology at the University of Neuchâtel, followed by Chinese and Russian studies at the University of Geneva. Specializing in the heritage processes surrounding Muslim saints’ tombs in China, her doctoral research explored the political impact of cultural heritage on religious practices, first through fieldwork in Xinjiang and later in southeastern China—particularly in the cities of Guangzhou, Quanzhou, and Yangzhou. Her work adopts a processual approach to examine the dialogical transformations of Muslim heritage sites, considering both local dynamics and international influences, notably through the Maritime Silk Road Initiative.

Since then, she has conducted several postdoctoral research projects at HES-SO Geneva, focusing on the Sino-International Library of Geneva (1932–1949) to explore the representations of China in Western intellectual and diplomatic circles. She further expanded her expertise at EPFL, where she investigated urban and Olympic heritage in Beijing, as well as the digital and cultural legacy of the Montreux Jazz Festival archives. Throughout these projects, her work has consistently combined ethnographic methods with archival research to trace the multifaceted narratives and global imaginaries surrounding cultural heritage.

Building on this extensive background, Pascale has joined Peter Bille Larsen and the Geneva Heritage Lab as a postdoctoral researcher within the European project COLUMN (Horizon Europe). In this role, she investigates the coloniality of the intangible within university and museum institutions. Her research critically examines how intangible heritage is managed and represented, aiming to decenter traditional institutional narratives. As part of this collaborative effort, she is co-curating two major exhibitions, scheduled for 2027 and 2028 in Hanoi and Geneva, which will showcase the results of this co-construction between academic research and curatorial practice.